Your Smoothie Bowl Doesn't Have To Be Full Of Sugar

If you’re blending up kale and frozen fruit and adorning those homemade creations with granola, fruit and flowers, or stopping by that local smoothie joint to get your fix, know those picture-perfect concoctions can be giant sugar bombs.

Just think about it: You’re blending sugary yogurt or fruit juices, dumping honey into your smoothie, and then topping everything with granola and dried fruit. That’s a lot of sweet — even if there are some veggies in the mix.

Katherine Brooking, RD and co-founder of AppforHealth.com, said smoothies get even sweeter when you’re grabbing them to go.

“Some smoothie chains and quick serve restaurants use pureed fruit, fruit sorbets or fruit juice with added sugar to make their beverages,” she told The Huffington Post. “If you’re not careful, a large-sized smoothie from some chains can cost you nearly 600 calories and over 130 grams of sugar.”

So, how can we get the benefits smoothies can provide without overloading on sugar?Dr. Susan Mitchell, RD, suggests getting rid of as much added sugar as possible.

“If you want the lowest amount of added sugars, use plain Greek yogurt,” she told HuffPost. “It’s high in protein and has no added sugar. You can add your own sweetener if desired, or get your sweetness from fresh fruit in season. Also, be a label sleuth. Compare brands on the nutrition facts label.”